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(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. W. PRENTIGE. SUPPORT FOR BICYOLES.

m E m J M w (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2. G. W. PRENTIUE. SUPPORT FORBIGYGLES.

No. 595,204. Patented De0.'7,189'7.

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GEORGE \V. PREN"ICE, OF PROVIDENCE, RIIODE ISLAND.

SUPPORT FOR BICYCLES SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.595,204, dated December '7, 1897. Application filed December 22, 1896.Serial No. 616,586. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, GEORGE WV. PRENTICE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of RhodeIsland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Supportsfor Bi cycles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the ac companying drawings, and to lettersof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in bicycles; and it consists in thenovel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth andclaimed.

I am aware that prior to my present invention bicycles have beenprovided with transversely-arranged vertically-movable supports adaptedto be secured in the operative position,such devices beingpermanentlyattached to the bicycle, whereby the latter may be supported in anupright position when at a state of rest.

The object I have in view is to provide bicycles with a more simple,efficient, light, and comparatively inexpensive device for holding themin a vertical or upright position than other forms of supporting meanshitherto devised for this purpose.

By means of my invention the supports are made to gradually divergeduring the act of dropping them, thereby forming oppositelyarrangedlateral supports or legs, the upper end of the legs meanwhileautomatically e11- gaging or interlocking with a fixed brace or standardinterposed between the upper and lower members of the frame. The saidbrace serves not only to carry the swinging legs or movable props, butit also possesses an added function in that it serves to stiffen the topmember of the frame, thus increasing its rigidity without materiallyincreasing the weight of the bicycle.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevationof a bicycle provided with my invention, showing the several parts inthe normal position. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on line co mof Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a corresponding side view. Fig. at is a transversesection similar to Fig. 2, the legs being dropped and separatedlaterally as in use. Fig. 5 shows the upper portion of the legs when inengagement with the tie-rod, the relation of the parts being the same asrepresented in Fig. -L. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on line soa: of Fig. 3. Fig. '7 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1, showing myimprovementappliedtoaladysbicycle. Fig. Sis a horizontal sectionalview,enlarged,taken on line m 00 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a side view of theupper portion of the apparatus, showing a modification of the lockingdevice or catch represented in Fig. 5; and Fig. 10 is a transversesection taken 011 line 3 1 of Fig. 8, showing a spring interposedbetween the supporting-legs.

I would state that my improved bicyclesupport is well adapted to beemployed or used in various types of bicycles.

In the drawings I have represented the device combined with abicycle-frame of the diamond form.

In the bicycle A (represented in the drawings) the front and rear wheelsw w are mounted in the frame a substantially as commen, the front orsteering wheel being adapted to revolve in the fork member 1', which inturn extends upwardly through the corresponding part of the frame and issurmounted by handle-bars, also as usual. The top member or chord a ofthe frame, as well as one of the lower or inclined members a may beutilized in carrying out my invention, as shown in Fig. 1that is to say,couplings or holders d s are removably clamped to the said members a ain any suitable manner. The upper coupling (Z is provided with anillverted step or socket cl on its under side, the cap of the lowercoupling .9 having a corresponding step 8 formed on its upper side. (SeeFig. l.) In these steps or sockets are mounted the ends of avertically-arranged interposed rod l), its lower portion being locatedjust forward of the crank or pedal shaft 0. The cap of the lowercoupling 3 is provided with a pair of transversely-arranged ears orguides s 8 having enlarged openings '0 extending therethrough in asubstantially Vertical or slightly-inclined direction. The

said rod b when in place is rigid. It not only forms a combined tie andbrace for the top member a of the frame, but at the same time it servesto support or carry the two legs or Supports Z Z, about to be described.These lat ter are pivoted at the upper end to the opposite sides of thesliding cross-head h, which in turn has the rod 12 extending freelythrough it. Said cross-head is provided on its front side with a handleor spring-hook f, having a hole f therein adapted to receive the head ofa pin 2', secured to the upper part of the rod. By means of this devicethe legs are kept in the normal or elevated position when not in use.(See Figs. 1, 2, and 3.)

The inner faces of the top part m of the legs Z, above the pivots p, areprovided with suitable teeth or serrations arranged to engagecorresponding teeth 6 formed on the lower portion of the rod Z). (SeeFig. 5.) As thus constructed it will be apparent that upon unhooking thecatch f from the pin i the legs or props Z will drop to their limit bygravity or until arrested by contact with the ground or base 5 asshownin Fig. 4 and also in dotted lines, Fig. 1.

In Fig. 7 is represented a ladys bicycle A, provided with the usualdrop-frame a. In attaching my improvement to machines of this class thesupporting-rod b is rigidly mounted in holders or couplings d s,secured, respectively, to the upper and lower ends of the intermediateinclined member a of the frame a. The lower coupling 5 is provided withperforated ears or guides 5 which rest upon the horizontal tie-rods (bat the rear of the crank-shaft. The sliding cross-head h and supports ZZ, jointed thereto, are constructed and adapted to be employedsubstantially as before described with respect to the arrangement shownin Fig. 1.

In lieu of providing the rod b with a series of teeth, as shown in Fig.5, I may, without departing from the spirit of the invention, provide itwith two notches 6 arranged on opposite sides of the rod, as representedin Fig. 9, the upper end of the supports Z being correspondingly adaptedto engage the notches.

In order to prevent the members 1 from jarring or chattering when theyare in the elevated or normal position, a light expansionspring y may beinterposed between them, the same being in constant engagementtherewith. (See Fig. 10.) The spring further serves to insure theseparation or divergence of the supports when they are being droppedinto position for use.

In a bicycle provided with my improvements the rider is notinconvenienced in the least by reason of the presence of the supportingdevice, because the latter is contracted and does not extend beyond theframe a, nor does the device interfere with the pedaling or propellingmechanism. When the supporting apparatus or attachment forming thesubject of this invention is to be brought into use, the rider upondismounting simply lifts the forward part of the machine from the groundwith one hand, at the same time detaching the catch f from the rod 1),thereby allowing the supports Z to drop by gravity until arrested bycontact with the ground or base b (See Fig. 1.) At the same time, too,the said members in falling automatically diverge at the bottom, thusspreading them apart within fixed limits and thereby increasing thestability or points of contact, so that the machine is capable ofstanding alone or without other support. Simultaneously with the actionjust described the upper end m of the legs engage or interlock with theteeth 11 of the rod, the rider meanwhile releasing his hold upon themachine.

I prefer to tip the lower ends of the legs with suitable material, asrubber, t. I also prefer to enlarge the top of the members Z at a pointn below the pivot 19, so that they will bearagainst the rod itself whenthey are in the raised or normal position, (see Fig. 2,) therebypreventing the parts from jarring and rendering the device practicallynoiseless.

I claim as my invention In a supporting device for bicycles, thecombination with the upper and lower holders or couplings secured to thecorresponding members of the bicycle-frame, of the vertical rod 1)rigidly mounted in said couplings, a crosshead slidable on said rod, apair of oppositelyarranged supports or legsZpivoted at their upper endsto the cross-head, fixed guides s having the said legs passingdownwardly therethrough arranged to automaticallyspread the latter apartWhile they are being dropped into position for use, and having the endsof the legs, above the pivots, arranged to engage a notch or recessformed in the rod 1), substantially as hereinbefore described and forthe purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

GEORGE W. PRENTIOE.

WVitnesses:

GEo. H. REMINGTON, REMINGTON SHERMAN.

